Automatic commodity handling apparatus utilizing IC card

ABSTRACT

A store system has a card issue/money deposit machine (8) and a commercial-article handling machine (3) capable of vending and the like of commercial articles with utilization of the IC card (13). The card issue/money deposit machine (8) has a card issue means (8a) for issuing the IC card (13) based on input information of the customer, and a money processing means (8b) for recording input money in the IC card (13) as a deposit. The commercial-article handling machine (3) has an input means (3a) for inputting the kind and number and the like of commercial articles, IC card reader/writer (3b), a commercial-article handling means (3c) for conducting vending of commercial articles and the like based on the input information of commercial articles and the recorded information of the IC card, and a calculation means (3d) for subtracting the amount of deposit recorded in the IC card according to commercial articles to be handled. By making use of the IC card having a memory capacity larger thank the magnetic card, automatic vending, renting and other operations of various commercial articles can be carried out.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an automatic commercial-articlehandling system which is able to processes rental of videocassettetapes, vending of commercial articles such as magazines, cigarettes andothers in a manner efficiently by making use of the IC card as customercard.

The present invention also relates to an automatic renting system forrecorded media utilizing the IC card that is suitable for rentingrecorded media such as videocassettes.

Further, the present invention relates to an IC card issue machinesuitable for use in an automatic commercial-article handling systemwhich is able to process rental of videocassette tapes, vending ofcommercial articles such as, magazines, cigarettes and other items in anefficient manner by making use of the IC card.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to an IC card issue system inwhich issue operations of a plurality of IC card issue machines equippedin a branch shop can be controlled via communications line by a controlcomputer equipped in a head office.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, in view of rise of labor cost, midnight operation orthe like, there have been adopted a manned/unmanned store system whereinautomatic vending machines for commercial articles, automatic rentingmachines for videocassette tapes and the like are equipped in a store.This kind of system requires no permanently-stationed clerks for sellingand renting commercial articles.

Where such a system is employed, it is convenient to use prepaid cardsor other cards for purchase of commercial articles instead of usingcash. Prepaid cards that are generally used are, however, ofmagnetically recorded type and have no capacity of storing a largeamount of information. Thus, this kind of cards are not suitable for usein such stores as selling and renting a variety of commercial articles.

On the other hand, where rental shops are concerned for conductingrenting/returning of recorded media such as videocassette tapesautomatically, the use of automatic renting machines becomes widespread. In this case also, settlement of rental fees is carried out byusing the prepaid membership card. Since the generally-used membershipcard is of magnetically recorded type, the amount of information thatcan be stored therein is low, thereby restricting applications thereof.

As mentioned above, the generally-used prepaid card or membership cardis of magnetically recorded type, and is restricted in recordingcapacity thereof. Thus, it is not suitable for use in a store systemwhere a variety of commercial articles are sold and rented.

In addition, where the magnetically-recorded membership card is used inan automatic renting machine for recorded media such as videocassettetapes, such a card is limited in the amount of information that can berecorded therein and therefore is restricted in its applications.

Especially, in the case of automatic renting machines, when recordedmedia are for adults only, it is required to realize rental prohibitionso as not to allow minors to rent such recorded media freely. For thisend, adult and minor cards are generally issued as membership cards.However, where there are two kinds of cards issued, after a customerbecomes adult, the membership card for this person must be changed to bethe adult card, which is inconvenient.

Further, in the case of automatic renting machines, a general system issuch that the exclusive card is issued for each of the renting machinesand that the upper limit of the available number (renting number) ispredetermined. For example, the maximum number of renting is set to bethree, and renting of articles more than that number at the same time isprohibited. However, if the same customer holds utilization cards forindividual rental machines, he or she is able to rent videocassettetapes or the like more than the maximum number.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In the consideration of the above problems, an object of the presentinvention is, paying attention to the IC card having recording capacitylarger than the magnetic card, to provide an automaticcommercial-article handling system for a store system capable of sellingor renting various commercial articles automatically by making use ofthe IC card as customer card.

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide an automaticrenting system for recorded media for a store system for rentingrecorded media such as videocassette tapes by making use of the IC cardas customer card.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide anautomatic renting machine for recorded media suitable for constitutingthe above automatic renting system for recorded media.

Further object of the present invention is to provide an IC card issuemachine suitable for issuing the IC card used in a system for sellingand renting commercial articles by making use of the IC card.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide an ICcard issue system that is capable of remotely controlling unmannedcard-issuing operations of the above IC card issue machine.

In order to realize the above objects, an automatic commercial-articlehandling system utilizing the IC card according to the present inventioncomprises a card issue machine for issuing the IC card as customer card,and a commercial handling machine capable of selling, renting and thelike of commercial articles by making use of the IC card issued by thecard issue machine.

The card issue machine has a card issue means for issuing an IC cardbased on input information by the customer, and a money handling meansfor recording the amount of money input by the customer as the amount ofdeposit in the IC card. While, the commercial-article handling machinehas an input means for inputting the kind, number and the like ofcommercial articles, an IC card reader/writer, a commercial-articlehandling means for conducting selling, renting or returning operation ofcommercial articles based on commercial-article information input viathe input means and on recorded information of the IC card, and acalculation means for processing subtraction of the deposit amountrecorded in the IC card in accordance with commercial articles to behandled.

It is preferable that the money handling means of the card issue machinecarries out premium giving operation on the deposit amount to berecorded in accordance with recorded contents in the IC card includingthe deposit amount and purchase record of commercial articles. Forinstance, a certain amount of premium is given where the deposit amountis high, or a variety of premium services are given according tofrequency in use of the IC card.

It is also preferable that the date of the customer's birth is recordedin the IC card, and the commercial article handling machine conductssales control of commercial articles based on the above recordedcontents of the IC that is inserted therein. For example, an automaticvending machine for alcohol drinks, cigarettes or other items is able toconduct sales prohibiting operations to minors based on the contents ofthe IC card.

Further, it is convenient for customers to check the stock of commercialarticle, to order commercial articles and to do other operations fromtheir homes, companies or other places. For this purpose, the automaticcommercial-article handling system is provided with a control means forcentrally controlling the commercial-article machine and a customer'sterminal connected via a communications line to the control means,allowing the customer to conduct check of the stock, to order commercialarticles or to do other operations via the customer's terminal.

Furthermore, it is preferable to repay the deposit when the customerwishes to return the IC card. For this, the money handling means of themoney handling machine is provided with a function of repaying thebalance of deposit recorded in the IC card.

Next, the above-constituted automatic commercial-article handling systemutilizing the IC card can be adopted as an automatic renting system forvideocassette tapes. The automatic renting system for videocassettetapes according to the present invention comprises a card issue machinefor issuing the IC card as customer card, and a renting machine forautomatically renting recorded media such as videocassette tapes bymaking use of the issued IC card. The card issue machine issues the ICcard based on information input by the customer and the amount of inputmoney. The renting machine also has an input means for inputting atleast the kind and number of a recorded medium to be rented, an IC cardreader/writer, a storing shelf for storing recorded media, a transfermechanism for carrying out renting and returning operations of recordedmedia based on recorded information of the IC card, and a control meansfor controlling the respective portions.

The IC card is preferably provided with a memory area for storing atleast identifying information of the customer, the balance of deposit,and information about renting of recorded media. Preferably, theinformation about renting of recorded media includes at leastidentification data of renting machines from which recorded media arerented out, identification data of rented recorded media, rental fees ofthe rented recorded media, and rented dates. Based on these information,it is possible to rent recorded media out from a renting machine and toreturn them to another renting machine. Therefore, there is no need toreturn the recorded media to the same renting machine, which isconvenient for the customer.

In addition, a renting machine, to which a recorded medium rented outfrom another renting machine is returned, is constituted so that it isable to store the such recorded media separately, whereby operation ofreturning the recorded media back to the original renting machinebecomes simplified. For this purpose, the renting machine is providedwith a renting/returning shelf section exclusive for storing suchrecorded media as are under administration thereof and a spare shelfsection for storing recorded media when such recorded media are returnedas have been rented out from another renting machines.

On the other hand, the number of recorded media to be rented can becontrolled based on that recorded in the inserted IC card. With this,each of a plurality of automatic renting machines can recognize thetotal number of recorded media that have been rented out by the samecustomer from respective automatic renting machines equipped in anautomatic rental shop, whereby renting of recorded media more than themaximum number out to the same customer can easily be prevented.

Likewise, at the side of each automatic renting machine, it is possibleto calculate the age of the customer from the date of the customer'sbirth recorded in the IC card, and to control renting operations ofrecorded media based on the calculated age. Whereby, both adult andminor cards need not to be issued as customer card. This is because theage of the customer is calculated based on the recorded date of thecustomer's birth, based on which it is possible to determine whether thecustomer is adult or not. This is also convenient for the customer sincethere is no need to have the card reissued even after he or she becomesadult.

Next, the present invention is directed to an IC card issue machinesuitable for issuing the IC card utilized in the above-mentionedcommercial-article handling system and renting machine for recordedmedia, which has the following features.

Namely, the IC card issue machine comprises an image scanning means forscanning an identification card of a person asking for membership and anapplication form for membership, an input means for the customer toinput information, an issue means for issuing the IC card based oninformation from the image scanning means and the input means, a moneyhandling means which conducts receipt, calculation and repayment ofmoney and records the amount of money put by the customer in the IC cardto be issued as a deposit, an IC card reader/writer, and a display meanscapable of displaying at least the amount of money put by the customer,the balance of deposit recorded in the IC card, and operationalprocedure of the issue machine.

For the purpose that premium and other services are offered to customerswho use cards with high frequency and to those who have a large amountof deposit, the money handling means is constituted to give a premium toa deposit to be recorded based on the recorded contents of the IC cardincluding the amount of deposit and purchase record of commercialarticles.

Where the IC card to be issued is recorded the date of the customer'sbirth, it is allowed for the commercial-article handling system tocalculate the age of the customer and controls sales of commercialarticles based on the calculated age.

In addition, it is also preferable that the IC card is provided with amemory area capable of recording information concerning availablecommercial-article handling machines (vending machines and rentingmachines) and information about utilization record of these machines.With this, the state of usage by each customer can be read from the ICcard, which is convenient.

Further, in order not to waste deposit money when the customer asks forquitting use of the card, the money handling means is preferablyconstituted to be able to repay the balance of deposit recorded in theIC card.

On the other hand, the present invention is directed to an IC card issuesystem suitable to allow the above-constituted IC card issue machine tocarry out an unmanned issue operation thereof. The IC card issue systemcomprises the above-constituted IC card issue machine equipped in abranch shop, a control computer system equipped in a head office, and acommunications means for transmitting and receiving information betweenthe IC card issue machine and the control computer system.

In the IC card issue system of the present invention, the IC card issuemachine transmits information received via the image scanning means andthe input means to the control computer system at the side of the headoffice by means of the communications means. The control computer systemdetermines whether membership is allowed to give or not based on thereceived information, and transmits the result of determination to theIC card issue machine via the communications means. Based on thetransmitted information, issue of the IC card is controlled at the sideof the IC card issue machine.

In order to assure identification of a person asking for membership, acamera means is accommodated such as a still camera or floppy-disccamera for taking a photograph of the person asking for membership,thereby taking a photograph of the person and comparing it with anidentification card of the person such as his or her driver's licensecard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an automatic commercial-article handling system accordingto the present invention, wherein (A) is a schematic constitutional viewof a store system thereof and (B) is a schematic block diagram of acontrol system of a card issue/money deposit machine and an automaticvending machine.

FIG. 2 is a structural view of a card issue machine that is applicablefor realizing a card issue function of the card issue/money depositmachine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing operation of the card issuemachine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a general flow chart showing an issue operation of the IC cardby the card issue machine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an automatic renting machine forvideocassette tapes according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention will be explainedin detail.

An Automatic Commercial-article Handling System Utilizing the IC Card

FIG. 1(A) shows a store system in which an automatic commercial-articlehandling system utilizing the IC card of the present invention isadopted.

With reference to this figure, the store system 1 has a plurality ofautomatic vending machines and automatic renting machines for commercialarticles equipped in a store 2. Namely, the store is equipped with analcohol vending machine 3, a cigarette vending machine 4, an automaticvending machine 5 for juice or other drinks, an automatic vendingmachine 6 for other commercial items, and an automatic renting machine 7for videocassette tapes. A card issue/money deposit machine 8 is alsoprovided. An office 9 partitioned from the place where these machinesare equipped is provided with a control computer system 10 forcontrolling these machines collectively. The control computer system 10is connected via telephone lines 11 to a terminal such as a computer 12Aor a telephone 12B equipped in the home or a firm of the customer.

As shown in FIG. 1(B), the card issue/money deposit machine 8 comprisesa card issue means 8a or issuing the IC card 13 based on informationinput by the customer, a money handling means 8b for recording theamount of money put by the customer in the IC card 13 as a deposit. Themoney handling means 8b is constituted so that, based on recordedcontents of the IC card 13 including the amount of deposit and purchaserecord of commercial articles, it gives a premium to the deposit that isto be recorded. For example, a premium according to the amount ofdeposit is given to the actual amount of deposit. Or, the customer whouses the card with high frequency is given a special benefit such ascash back and a premium to the deposit amount according to the frequencyin use of card.

The money handling machine 8b is also constituted so as to repay thebalance of deposit by cash in accordance with instructions by thecustomer.

The card issue means 8a of the card issue/money deposit machine 8 isprovided with a reader/writer 8c which records information concerningthe age of the customer, the amount of deposit and the like, and readsout recorded information of the IC card.

On the other hand, the commercial-article handling machine, for example,the alcohol automatic vending machine 3 comprises a commercial-articlestoring shelf 3A for storing alcoholic drinks, an input means 3a forallowing the customer to input the kind and number of alcoholic drinks,a reader/writer 3b for reading recorded contents from and writinginformation into the IC card, a handling means 3c for processing salesof alcoholic drinks based on input information about alcoholic drinksand recorded contents of the IC card 13, and a calculation means 3d forsubtracting the amount of deposit recorded in the IC card according tothe price of alcoholic drinks to be sold. The handling means 3c obtainsthe age of the customer from recorded contents of the inserted IC card,based on which it determines whether sales of alcoholic drinks ispermitted or not. It prohibits sales of alcoholic drinks to minors.

Purchase of commercial articles in the store system 1 as constitutedabove is carried out as follows. The customer enters the store 2, andputs cash into the card issue/money deposit machine 8 and at the sametime inputs his or her personal information. Whereby, the cardissue/money deposit machine 8 prepares the IC card 13 for use ascustomer card and issues it to the customer. The IC card 13 hascustomer's information and the deposit amount recorded therein.

The customer inserts the issued IC card 13 into the alcohol vendingmachine 3 and specifies an alcoholic drink to be purchased, for example.The alcohol vending machine 3 reads the recorded contents of the IC card13 by means of the reader/writer 3b. Where the customer is found to be aminor from the recorded contents, sales of alcohol drinks is prohibited,which is displayed on a screen or the like disposed on the input means3a or other place, and the IC card 13 is ejected and returned to thecustomer.

Where the customer is adult, sales of alcoholic drinks to be specifiedis carried out. Then, the calculation means 3d subtracts the price ofthe sold alcohol drink from the amount of deposit recorded in the ICcard 13, and the calculated result is written into the IC card 13 as thebalance of deposit by means of the reader/writer 3b. Thereafter, the ICcard 13 is returned to the customer.

While, in the store system 1, sales information of vending machines andother machines and inventory information of commercial articles areunder administration of the control computer system 10. The controlcomputer system 10 is connected to the computer terminal 12A, telephone12B or the like equipped in the home or other place of each customer asmentioned above. Each customer is allowed to check inventory ofcommercial articles by operating the computer terminal or the like whilestaying at home. Of course, it is able to make order or reservation ofcommercial articles.

In case that the customer wishes to quit utilization of the store system1, it is only necessary to return the IC card 13 back to the cardissue/money deposit machine 8. Upon returning the IC card 13, the moneyhandling means 8b repays the balance of deposit to the customer by cash.Consequently, different from the general prepaid card, the money paidinitially would not be wasted.

As aforementioned, it is able to increase customer attracting force byadopting the store system 1 to sales and rental of commercial articleswithin a limited area such as a single unmanned store or its chainstores, not worldwide. At the same time, it is possible to realizereduction of labor in stores and to assure the same services as aregiven in manned stores.

The Card Issue/Money Deposit Machine

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, an example for realizing the card issue means8a of the above card issue/money deposit machine 8 will be explained.

First, FIG. 2 shows an example of an external view of the cardissue/money deposit machine 8. As shown in this figure, the cardissue/money deposit machine 8 has an image scanner 22 assembled on itsfront surface. The image scanner 22 has a cover 22a, on the back ofwhich information about operational procedure is described. A personasking for the IC card as customer card puts his or her driver's licensecard or other identification card on a designated area of a sheet ofapplication form of membership 23 (see FIG. 3), and makes the imagescanner 22 to read them, whereby the read information is transmitted toa remote head office 100 via a communications line 24. A still camera 25is housed in a position above the image scanner 22 for taking aphotograph of a person standing in front of it. Photographed informationis transmitted to the head office 100, together with the informationread by the image scanner.

On the upper portion of the front surface of the card issue/moneydeposit machine 8 are arranged ready lamp 26, a card issuing lamp 27 anda card issued lamp 28 for displaying operational conditions. A cardissue/return slot 29 is provided at the middle position of the frontsurface. Under the image scanner 22 is provided a coin slot formembership fee, under which a printout slot 30 is provided. Further, areturn slot 30 is provided for returning money back to the customer.

At the front surface of the card issue/money deposit machine 8 areprovided a head-office communication button 33, a microphone 34 forallowing a person asking for membership to communicate with the headoffice, and a speaker 35 for allowing the head office to communicate andgive operational instructions to a person asking for membership. Inaddition, a sensor 36 is also provided for detecting approach of aperson toward the card issue/money deposit machine 8.

FIG. 3 generally illustrates the inner constitution of the cardissue/money deposit machine 8, together with its control system. Thecontrol system is constituted mainly by a microcomputer 40 and carriesout card issuing operation as mentioned below in accordance withbuilt-in control programs. The computer 40 constitutes a judgementcircuit 41 which receives a signal indicating that membership fee is putfrom an input money processing machine 42. From the head office 100, aninstruction signal is input via the communications line 24 and a modem43, the signal indicating whether issuance of card is permitted or not.The judgement circuit 41, based on these signals, determines whether ornot issuance of card is allowed or not. When issuance of card ispermitted, an issuance signal is supplied to a card issue/return section44. The card issue/return section 44 is provided with a card issuesection 44a and a card recovery section 44b. The IC card 13a issued fromthe card issue/return section 44 is written therein informationincluding the date of birth for identifying the customer by means of thereader/writer 46. Likewise, recorded information of the IC card 13breturned to the card issue/return section 44 is read by thereader/writer 46.

While, a printer 45 is supplied with information obtained by the imagescanner 22, and prints out a hard copy 23a of the application form ofmembership.

On the other hand, in the head office 100, a facsimile machine 101 isequipped as signal receiving means for receiving information transmittedfrom the branch shop. There is a person permanently stationed at thehead office, who checks the received information and transmits to thebranch shop the instruction signal concerning permission and prohibitionof issuance of card via facsimile.

Next, referring to a general flow chart of FIG. 4, there will beexplained a card issue operation performed by the card issue/moneydeposit machine 8. First, the customer stands in front of the cardissue/money deposit machine 8, which is detected by the sensor 36 (stepST1). Upon detection, voice instructions for operation are made via thespeaker 35 (step ST2). Contents of operation are also indicated on theback surface 22a of the cover of the image scanner 22. According tothese instructions, a person asking for membership writes down the nameand address in a sheet of application form of membership 23 and attacheshis or her driver's license card thereon, and then places them on theimage scanner 22, whereby the sheet of application form of membership 23is scanned by the image scanner 22. At the same time, the built-in stillcamera is driven to take a photograph of the person asking formembership (step ST3).

The read information of the sheet of application form of membership 23and the photographed information are transmitted to the head office 100via the modem 43 and communications line 24 (step ST4). A permanentattendant at the side of head office 100 checks the informationreceived. More specifically, by looking at a copy of application form ofmembership and the photograph of the person asking for membership, thepermanent attendant checks whether membership criteria are satisfied andwhether the person can be identified as himself or herself. When theperson is admitted to membership, an issuance permission signal is sentout to the branch shop via the communications line 24, together withpersonal identifying information including the date of birth of theperson asking for membership (step ST5). When issuance is judged not toallow, no procedure is taken.

The card issue/money deposit machine 8 instructs the person asking formembership to insert a desired amount of money via the speaker 35 whenit receives the above issuance permission signal within a predeterminedperiod of time (step ST6). Where it does not receive the issuancepermission signal within the predetermined period of time, it informsthe person asking for membership that card issuance is not allowed viathe speaker 35 (step ST10), and finishes the operation.

Next, when money insertion is carried out within a predetermined periodof time after money insertion is instructed, the input money processingmachine 42 supplies a signal indicative of money insertion to thejudgement circuit 41. The judgment circuit 41 is also supplied with theissuance permission signal transmitted from the head office. When bothsignals are supplied, an issuance instruction signal is supplied to thecard issue/recovery section 44 (step ST8). As a result, the issuancesection 44a of the card issue/recovery section 44 is driven to deliver anew membership card 13a therefrom. The delivered membership card 13a iswritten therein necessary information by means of the reader/writer 46and then is issued to the customer via the card issuance slot 29.

Whereas, when money is not received within the predetermined period oftime, it is judged that the person abandons obtaining membership andprocessing ceases without conducting issuance operation.

A Automatic Renting System Utilizing the IC Card

There will be described an example wherein the present invention isadopted to an automatic renting system for videocassette tapes.

FIG. 5 shows an arrangement of a video rental shop 50. As shown in thisfigure, the video rental shop 50 is provided with a card issue machine51 for issuing the IC card as membership card, and a plurality ofautomatic renting machines 52 (52-1, 52-2, 52-3, 52-4 . . . ).

Conventionally, where a plurality of renting machines are equipped, itis not able to return the videocassette tape to a renting machinedifferent from one that has rented out the same videocassette tapewithout networking these renting machines. On the contrary, in thepresent example, the IC card is utilized as membership card which has amemory capacity extremely larger than the magnetic card. Thus,recordation of a large amount of information in the IC card enables toreturn videocassette tapes to different renting machines.

More specifically, the IC card can store a large amount of informationsuch as which videocassette tape is rented from which renting machine atwhich time and at what amount of money, how long rented period is, howmuch an additional charge is, or the like, whereby it is possible torealize return of videocassette tapes to different renting machines.

Consequently, each renting machine is able to recognize the number ofvideocassette tapes that have been rented out to the same customer fromthe respective renting machines equipped in the video rental shop. Thus,different from the conventional cases wherein the maximum number to berented is regulated by the individual renting machines independently, itis able to avoid such a situation in which a large number ofvideocassette tapes have been rented out to the same customer.

Further, where the IC card stores the name, date of birth, admissiondate and other information of the member, the renting machine is allowedto display the birthday of the member, a congratulatory message, therenewal date of the card and other indications.

In particular, where the renting machine is constituted to calculate theage of the customer from the date of his or her birth recorded in the ICcard and determines whether or not the customer is adult or not, it canavoid necessity of issuing adult and minor cards according to the age ofthe customers as is conventionally, which is convenient.

Whereas, since the magnetic card that is generally used as membershipcard can only store 69-line data at most, the above various procedurescannot be carried out. In addition, in order to carry out returnoperation of videocassette tapes between a plurality of rentingmachines, these renting machines must be connected via communicationsnetwork. In this case, if the host computer breaks down due tomalfunction or other reasons, the whole system would also break down, tointerrupt renting operation, which is inconvenient.

However, where the IC card is utilized as membership card as in thepresent invention, a plurality of renting machines can be made as ifthey were networked via the IC card. Thus, there is no occurrence of abreakdown of the whole system due to the breakdown of the host computer.

As information to be recorded in the IC card, examples thereof arelisted in table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        (Example of recorded contents of the card)                                    ______________________________________                                             1.    area code                                                               2.    shop code                                                               3.    member code                                                             4.    name                                                                    5.    date of birth                                                           6.    telephone number                                                        7.    valid date                                                              8.    registered date                                                         9.    amount of money available                                               10.   remaining point                                                               (*minus point passible)                                                 11.   frequency in use                                                        12.   maximum number to be rented                                             13.   password                                                                14.   renting-machine number                                                  15.   rented tape number                                                      16.   rented tape fee                                                    **    17.  arrears                                                                 18.   rented date                                                             19.   returning due date                                                      20.   bar code number                                                               (** data capacity of 10 tapes)                                          21.   machine in number in case returned to a different machine               22.   date in case returned to a different machine                       **    23.  machine number to which a tape is returned                              24.   returned tape number                                                    25.   date returned                                                                 (** data capacity of 10 tapes)                                     ______________________________________                                    

Next, table 2 shows an example of rental operation of videocassettetapes using the IC card, while table 3 shows an example of returningoperation of videocassette tapes using the IC card.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        (Renting operation)                                                           ______________________________________                                         ##STR1##                                                                     ______________________________________                                         (* In case the card point is not remained, make the card issue machine to     display request of point addition.)                                      

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        (Returning operation)                                                         ______________________________________                                         ##STR2##                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As explained above, according to the automatic commercial-articlehandling system utilizing the IC card, and the automatic renting systemfor recorded media of the present invention, it can realize vending andrental operations of commercial articles in a manner that they areeasily utilized by customers, based on a large amount of informationrecorded in the IC card.

Further, according to the IC card issue machine and the IC card issuesystem of the present invention, the IC card capable of storing a largeamount of information can be utilized as customer card. Therefore, basedon a large amount of information recorded in the IC card, it can realizevending and rental operations of commercial articles in a manner thatthey are easily utilized by customers.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic commercial-article handling systemutilizing an IC card, comprising:a card issue machine for issuing the ICcard as a customer card, and a commercial-article handling machine forselling or renting of commercial articles by making use of the issued ICcard, wherein the card issue machine has a card issue means for issuingthe IC card based on input information by the customer, and a moneyhandling means for recording the amount of money deposited by thecustomer as the amount of deposit in the IC card, wherein thecommercial-article handling machine has an input means for inputting thekind and number of commercial articles, an IC card reader/writer, acommercial-article handling means for conducting selling, renting orreturning operation of commercial articles based on commercial-articleinformation input via the input means and on recorded information of theIC card, and a calculation means for processing subtraction operation ofthe deposit amount recorded in the IC card in accordance with thecommercial article to be handled, and means for crediting the depositamount with a premium in accordance with recorded contents in the ICcard including the deposit amount and purchase record of commercialarticles.
 2. An automatic commercial-article handling system utilizingan IC card, comprising:a card issue machine for issuing the IC card as acustomer card, and a commercial-article handling machine for selling orrenting of commercial articles by making use of the issued IC card,wherein the card issue machine has a card issue means for issuing the ICcard based on input information by the customer, and a money handlingmeans for recording the amount of money deposited by the customer as theamount of deposit in the IC card, wherein the commercial-articlehandling machine has an input means for inputting the kind and number ofcommercial articles, an IC card reader/writer, a commercial-articlehandling means for conducting selling, renting or returning operation ofcommercial articles based on commercial-article information input viathe input means and on recorded information of the IC card, and acalculation means for processing subtraction operation of the depositamount recorded in the IC card in accordance with the commercial articleto be handled, and means for repaying the balance of deposit recorded inthe IC card upon returning of the IC card.
 3. An automatic rentingsystem for recorded media utilizing an IC card, comprising:a card issuemachine for issuing the IC card as a customer card, and a rentingmachine for automatically renting recorded media such as videocassettetapes by making use of the issued IC card, wherein the card issuemachine issues the IC card based on information input by the customerand the amount of input money, and wherein the renting machine has aninput means for inputting at least the kind and the number of recordedmedia to be rented, an IC card reader/writer, a transfer mechanism forcarrying out renting and returning operations of recorded media based oninput information via the input means and recorded information of the ICcard, and a control means for controlling the respective portions, andthe renting machine controls a number of recorded media to be rented outby comparing the number of recorded media that had been rented out and apredetermined limit recorded in the IC card.
 4. An automatic rentingmachine for automatically renting recorded media such as videocassettetapes utilizing an IC card issued as a customer card, comprising:aninput means for inputting at least the kind and the number of a recordedmedium to be rented, an IC card reader/writer, a storing shelf forstoring recorded media, a transfer mechanism for carrying out rentingand returning operations of recorded media based on input informationvia the input means and recorded information of the IC card, and acontrol means for controlling the respective portions, and means forcontrolling the number of recorded media to be rented out by comparingthe number of recorded media that have been rented out and apredetermined limit recorded in the IC card.
 5. An IC card issue machinefor issuing an IC card as a membership card for using a commercialarticle handling machine which carries out automatic renting orautomatic vending of videocassette tapes, comprising:an image scanningmeans for scanning the identification card of a candidate for membershipand an application form for membership, an input means for a customer toinput information, an issue means for issuing an IC card based oninformation from the image scanning means and the input means, a moneyhandling means which conducts receipt, calculation and repayment ofmoney and records the amount of money input by the customer in the ICcard to be issued as the amount of deposit, an IC card reader/writer,and a display means for displaying at least the amount of money input bythe customer, the balance of deposit recorded in the IC card, andoperational procedure of the issue machine, and means for crediting thedeposit amount with a premium based on the recorded contents of the ICcard including the amount of deposit and purchase record of commercialarticles.